Many Old Testament scholars have focused their studies of justice on the eighth-century BC prophets Isaiah, Amos and Micah, giving little or no attention to Hosea. Neglect of Hosea in relation to justice arises from the common notion that he was a prophet of love, and although some studies concede that parts of the book deal with justice, it is often overlooked or given secondary importance to other concerns and themes. In this publication Ronald Laldinsuah addresses this misconception by demonstrating that Hosea was indeed a prophet of justice. Through careful analysis of the text as well as observing both the biblical concept and the secular notions of justice it is observed that justice must perpetuate right and true relationships. In ‘relational justice’ we see the inseparable relationship among humans, and between humans and God – emphasising Hosea’s message of responsibility, chastisement and restoration.

The book of Hosea is a labyrinth of juxtaposed images for God and God’s people, with such disparate metaphors as God the devouring lion and God the reviving dew. In Hosea’s God: A Metaphorical Theology, Mason D. Lancaster demonstrates that recent advances in metaphor theory help untangle these divergent portrayals of God. He analyzes fifteen metaphor clusters in Hosea 4–14 individually, then discerns patterns and reversals between the clusters. Finally, respecting the ancient value for emphasizing individual aspects of a depiction over a homogenized picture of the whole, the book identifies five characteristics of God prominent among the metaphors of Hosea. Based on this analysis, Lancaster asserts that Hosea’s metaphorical depiction of Yahweh ultimately derives from the primacy of Yahweh’s fidelity to Israel.

Many Old Testament scholars have focused their studies of justice on the eighth-century BC prophets Isaiah, Amos and Micah, giving little or no attention to Hosea. Neglect of Hosea in relation to justice arises from the common notion that he was a prophet of love, and although some studies concede that parts of the book deal with justice, it is often overlooked or given secondary importance to other concerns and themes. In this publication Ronald Laldinsuah addresses this misconception by demonstrating that Hosea was indeed a prophet of justice. Through careful analysis of the text as well as observing both the biblical concept and the secular notions of justice it is observed that justice must perpetuate right and true relationships. In ‘relational justice’ we see the inseparable relationship among humans, and between humans and God – emphasising Hosea’s message of responsibility, chastisement and restoration.

Since the garden of Eden, a choice between true and false wisdom has confronted human beings, and the need for discernment is consistent throughout Scripture. This volume engages with the canny decisions of the Hebrew midwives, the moral chaos of the judges' era, dilemmas in the monarchy, and prophetic responses to the turmoil of the threat of empires, along with themes from Psalms, Job, and Proverbs. Wise preaching and teaching are enriched by insights from Tanzania, Myanmar, and Central Asia, and wisdom in daily life is found in biblical practices and is centered on Christ. Colleagues and students honor Lindsay Wilson, whose wisdom interests extend across the canon. This work is valuable for students and teachers of Old Testament and for anyone seeking to become wise.